Georgia protests: What’s behind them and what’s next?

Demonstrations broke out after PM Irakli Kobakhidze postponed EU membership talks until 2028.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators have clashed with riot police in Georgia over the past five nights in protests against the governing Georgian Dream party’s decision to suspend talks aimed at joining the European Union until 2028. 

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the populist Dream Party, announced the decision after the European Parliament rejected the results of Georgia’s October 26 parliamentary elections. He accused the European Parliament and “some European leaders” of “blackmail”.

Why are people protesting in the country of 3.7 million people in the South Caucasus? And what could happen next?